“I am pleased by today’s announcement that FERC will be holding a series of technical conferences to explore the impact of the EPA’s proposed “Clean Power Plan” (CPP) on electric grid operations and reliability.

“FERC has an important responsibility to ensure reliable electricity through just and reasonable rates. A key part of this work is to fully understand how changes in the marketplace, technology, and other agencies’ regulations will affect the duties with which FERC has been entrusted by Congress.

“Should the CPP survive legal challenge, states, regions, and the EPA itself will begin the complex task of creating federally enforceable implementation plans. It is not difficult to envision scenarios in which a patchwork-quilt of implementation plans, if improperly crafted, either conflict with one another or with the Federal Power Act itself in ways that harm electric reliability and distort prices.

“FERC is uniquely situated to vet these issues so that such scenarios are avoided. FERC is an independent regulatory agency with expertise in electric reliability and the nation’s wholesale electricity markets. As such, it is well-suited to leverage its knowledge of the grid and its relationships with the states and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to facilitate a meaningful, transparent discussion.

“I thank Chairman LaFleur for approving this series of technical conferences. In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues at FERC and our colleagues across state and federal governments as we study these critical issues.”